Photos of the second visit (GIS)

Printing labels

After the designing of the labels by the C.I.T students, they were supposed to print them and send them back to the farmer groups in Nakasongola. This is the week when the products are to be printed.

More GIS and starting of the production

On monday 10th August four of the C.I.T students went back to Nakasongola to do more GIS work. This included mapping the last parishes and subcounties that were not mapped the previous visit. While the C.I.T students were doing GIS mapping, the FST students were starting the production process with their farmer groups. Mostly there were planning for what needs to be built and even building it and purchase all that is necessary to start the production. Meanwhile the label making process is nearing its close because the production of the products is about to start.

Presenting prototypes

These were the photos taken when the FST students went back to the farmers to present their prototypes. In a white tshirt with a red hat is one of the students (Kalule Andrew) and next to him in a white blouse and blue denims is another student (Nzirambeera Brenda).

Choosing of the products.

After the FST trip to Nakasongola to present the prototypes, the farmers chose to produce Cassava and Sweet potatoe cookies as the main products and cakes and groundnuts as the side products.

Prototypes

On the 21st Tuesday, prototypes of the suggested products were presented to the C.I.T students. We got to taste the products and there all very good. Some of the cassava cookies though were too hard to bite. All said the products were very good. The next day, the FST students went to Nakasongola to present the prototypes to the farmers and have them pick the product they will be producing.

Students and farmers intermingle

After the meetings, the students and the farmers took photos for the outside world to see what took place.

nakasongola

A brief look at this photo provides the look of nakasongola

meeting

One of the meetings with the farmer groups

The way

On our way to meet the farmer groups.

paul from Save the Children Uganda

Still on our first meeting. In the frame (standing) is Paul, (white lady sitting) is Erika, in the back are the chairpersons of the farmer groups.

Some of the farmers

This is still the meeting on our first visit.

Photos of our first visit

This is the meeting we had on our first visit to Nakasongola. We only met with the Chairpersons of the different farmer groups.

Market research report

This is our market research report
GROUP FOUR MARKET RESEARCH REPORT

This is the extract of the market research that was done on Nakulabye market, supermarket and supermarket. The products considered were chosen because they are either crops grown on large scale with surplus or they are made from crops grown on large scale with surplus by the farmers of Twekambe and Amagezi bugaga marketing groups.

The table below shows the different products that were considered.
Product Name
Measurement
Packaging
Price
--Maize flour
Kilo gramme
Polythene
1500/=
--Dry beans
Kilo gramme
Polythene
1800/=
--Fresh beans
Kilo gramme
Polythene
3000/=
--Ground nut paste
Kilo gramme
Polythene and tins
3000/=
--Ground nuts
Kilo gramme
Polythene
3000/=
--Cassava
Stack (Mulengo)
No packaging
2000/=
--Sweet potatoes
Stack (Mulengo)
No packaging
1500/=
--Tomato sauce
700 grammes
Bottle
1400/=
--Maganjo maize flour
5 Kilo grammes
Paper bag
10,250/=
Mangoes (small)
Stack (Mulengo)
Polythene
1000/=

Conclusion
There is not a lot of processing done the crops similar to those grown by the farmers in Nakasongola. This provides an opportunity for groups to come up with ideas that little or no competition at all.

Needs assessment report

This is the summary of our needs assessment report
NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT
ON
TWEKAMBE AND AMAGEZI BUGGAGA FARMER MARKETNG GROUPS

AT KALINDA AND NALUKONGE VILLAGES, NAKASONGOLA DISTICT.

DONE ON 18TH JUNE, 2009
Facilitators: Group four members
Ms Brenda Nzirambeera.
Mr. Andrew Kalule Owen
Mr. Charles Lubega


INTRODUCTION

Problem statement

Surplus of crop produce by farmers in Nakasongola district is one of the major causes of alarm that has left most the people yarning for the most feasible strategy to improve their livelihoods.

This surplus is primarily attributed to lack of: ready markets for their produce, knowledge and technologies to further modify their crop produce as well as capital resources needed to implement the technologies already acquired.

Poor market research is the major gap is the major gap that has hastened this problem.
In pursuit for better lives , Jobs International, SAVE the Children in collaboration with Makerere University are currently running a project to embark on a process to empower the members in these communities to take charge of their development through imparting them with knowledge and technologies such as product development as well as linking them to better markets.

Target group

Farmers in Twekambe and Amagezi Buggaga marketing groups in Kalindi and Nalukonge villages respectively in Nakasongola district.

Objectives

To get more information about the farmers so as to provide an oopurtunity to understand the community better.
To generate probable product ideas for product development.

Methods used

· Sharing experiences
· Focused group discussions
· observations

Materials used

Charts
Markers
Pens
Writing pads
Masking tape

Venue

The meeting was conducted at the local council head quarters in Nalukonge village where the Amagezi Buggaga usually converge to discuss and market their products.

DATA COLLECTED

Expectations

The exercise started by receiving the expectations of the participants. The following were listed.
To acquire more knowledge on value addition to their harvested produce.
To acquire knowledge on how to store their produce.
Linkage to better markets.
To get rich.
To get more skills.
To learn how to increase their crop yields hence become better farmers.
To become change agents.
To be awarded certificates at the end of the project.

Generally, it’s the buyers who set the prices because the farmers are ignorant about the on going market prices they are therefore exploited because they offer quality produce at low prices. The cited prices vary from farmer to farmer but the above is an estimated averaged arrived at during the session with the farmers
During product development, these prices will play a major role in budgeting to ensure effectiveness of the respective ventures.

Problems faced by the farmers in their day to day activities.

These were cited to be:
Lack of ready markets.
Poor storage facilities.
Inconsistent quality of products.
Poor transport.
Lack of capital.
Lack of labor to till the large pieces of land.
Pests and diseases.
Lack of information on on-going market prices.
Highly fluctuating prices.

Probable solutions
As a community, the farmers have managed to come up with some solutions to cope with the situations. These include:
Afforestation.
Formation of marketing groups.
Use of local storage facilities like granaries
Spraying against pests and disease.
Look up to leaders in authority to get solutions.

Product ideas generated.

Below are some of the product suggestions arrived at by the farmers:
Dried vegetables.
Dried mangoes.
Mango juice.
Gari from cassava.
Oil from groundnuts.
Tomato curry powder.
Local brew from cassava.
Peanut butter (Kipoli).
Highly polished flour.
Juice from sweet potatoes.
Sweet potato flour for making cakes and porridge.
We learnt the farmer actually know what they desire to have therefore when developing products most of these ideas will be put under consideration.

Mapping.

The major aim of this activity was to get more information on other resources available and their actual locations let alone knowing the geography of the areas were we shall be operating.

The following are indicated on the map attached:
Trading centre
Schools- kalinda primary school where the Twekambe marketing groups converge for their meetings
Dams
Boreholes
Lake kyoga
Roads.


Observations made;

ü The percentage of women involved in this project is higher compared to men which is an indicator of women in development despite the past where they were under looked
ü The farmers are equally knowledgeable therefore their suggestions will be the foundation to prosper this project.

CONCLUSION

The meeting was generally well attended and participants were enthusiastic to learn and work to change their living conditions for the better. However being the first meeting it was short but more will be organized as the project proceeds.

Capacity building being the key to sustainable development, great appreciation is extended to everybody who contributed to making this project a reality.

Next

So what next from here. Apart from the fact that we shall be leaving for Nakasongola to present the samples to the farmers,(You must remember the project is for the farmers and the decision is theirs when it comes to the actual product to be produced. Sorry for not mentioning this previously but the FST students came up with more than one sample so that the farmers pick their choice) I will start posting the pictures of the different activities we had. I am sure you cant wait.

Back from Nakasongola

When we came back(I hope by now you have realised that the writer of this is a C.I.T student) from Nakasongola, we continued our G.I.S training. The Food science students also visited Kawanda research center which is basically an agricultrual research center. In addition to the G.I.S training, the C.I.T students were enrolled into a multimedia training. Because the C.I.T students were supposed to find market and design logos & packaging for the produce, they were given training in the field of multimedia to enhance their productivity. FST(Food Science and Technology) students were also engaged in the production of samples and for those who witnessed the event left belching. I personally pray that everything will a success and I know it will be because apart from the fact that God is on our side, all involved parties are working hard to see that this project is a success.

The bitter truth

Nakasongola is dry place with dusty roads and very little transport means(Cars). This means that the only transport readily available for travel to the farmer groups is the use of Bodabodas. For those of you who do not know what bodabodas are; They are motorcycles that transport passengers. Now because the groups are very far from the center (where we normally stay for the night because of the lack of facilities and food in other remote areas) the bodabodas have to be fast to get there. In turn if you have protective wear like eye glasses, helmet and anything of the sort, you reach the place looking like dust it self. But for most of us we understand that this is how our country is and instead of being grumpy about it, we simply make fun of our selves when we return. It is one of the things that make going to Nakasongola a unique taste.

Second visit to Nakasongola

We left for Nakasongola on Friday 10th.
After the G.I.S training was partly concluded, C.I.T students were required to go back to Nakasongola to map the agricultural fields of the farmers, meeting points, water sources, any other places of interest to the project. Due to the lack of equipment (GPS used in mapping), only two of the nine subcounties were mapped. (More groups are going to go back to finish the work)

Training

Before going to Nakasongola, students were trained in various disciplines including participatory appraisal and other things the coordinators saw fit. They were mostly to do with the way the students were to handle themselves, carryout interviews and carryon the project while in Nakasongola.
After we came back from Nakasongola, we were given business training that involved so many activities that are required when starting a micro-business. E.g. Writing a business plan. After this, the C.I.T (faculty of computing and Information Technology) students were enrolled in G.I.S (Geographical Information Systems) training while the Food science students were enrolled in pilot plant skills training.

First trip to Nakasongola

On wednesday 17th 2009 we left C.I.T for Nakasongola for our first meeting with the farmers. When we arrived, a meeting was scheduled with the Chairpersons of the different marketing groups. We all introduced ourselves to the farmers and they in turn also introduced themselves to us. That was all for the first day.
The second day, we all went and visited our farmer groups. In our case, that is group four, we met the two groups we were supposed to work with at the place. We introduced ourselves and the farmers introduced themselves to us. We asked them for their expectactions in us, the problems they face, the solutions they have for the problems they face and the opportunities they see in terms of improving the value of their produce. We got information on places to stay, water sources, and other necessary items.
The next day we left for Kampala.

Introduction

This post is just a brief introduction to what this blog is all about.
The blog is supposed to create awareness of the project that is taking place in the Nakasongola district. The project is aimed at helping the local farmers improve their incomes through increasing the value and shelf life of their produce. The project has four partners and they include; The faculty of Computing and Information Technology, The department of Food science and Technology (both of which are from Makerere University Kampala), JOBS and Save the Children Uganda. Students from Makerere University are continuously trained in different disciplines to enhance their performance. Participatory appraisal is used in finding out problems and solutions from the farmers.